Compound tool



Dec. `24, 1935. 1 1 PLUME 2,025,473

COMPOUND TOOL Filed April l5, 1955 y *Ja/w JPM/25m.

Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES eAfEr oFrlcE COMPOUND TOOL James J. Plumb, Spokane, Wash. Application April 15, 1935, Serial N0. 16,394 9 claims. (ci. .s3- 192) This invention relates to a combination tool of the type used by carpenters and other mechanics and one object of the invention is to provide a compact tool of such construction that it may be used as a tri-square, miter square, a plumb or as a level.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compound tool including a handle or body and a blade which is so connected with the body that it may be angularly adjusted relative thereto and firmly but releasably secured in an adjusted position. A

Another object of the invention is to so construct the body that the blade may be disposed l transversely thereof in any desired angular relation to the handle when in use and when not in use disposed longitudinally of the handle in close fitting relation thereto where it will be partially encased by the body and when in this folded position t easily into a pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for securely holding a protractor disc in a set position and at the same time allow a latch for the disc to be easily moved to a releasing position and held in the releasing position if so desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blade and blade holding discs which have such A cooperation with each other that when a set screw engaging one of the discs is manipulated, the disc may be shifted into or out of position to cause a rm gripping action to take place between the blade and discs.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a perspective View of the compound tool.

Figure 2 is a section taken longitudinally through the body along the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

This improved tool consists briefly of a blade I in the form of a steel ruler and a handle orbody 2formed of strong metal and having upper and lower sections 3 and The blade I is disposed between the sections of the handle and engaged by securing means which firmly holds the blade and retains it in desired angular relation to the handle. When the tool is not in use, the blade is disposed longitudinally of the handle at one side thereof, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, and thus reduce the device to a compact mass and permit it to be easily carried in a pocket.

The two sections of the handle are rectangular in'shape and adjacent one end of the rhandle each section is formed with a circular socket, the socket 5 of the section 3 being of a depth less than the thickness of the section and having a groove 6 about its periphery which is` V-shaped in cross section. A bore l leads from the center of the 5 socket 5 through the outer face of the section and about this bore, the outer face of the section is recessed to form concentric surfaces 3 and 9. The socket Ii! of the section il extends entirely through the section but its inner end portion is 10 reduced in diameter, thereby forming an annular shoulder so that when the discs i l and I2 are in place the outstandingmarginal ange of the disc i2 will have a surface to bear against. The disc H carries a marginal rib i3 which fits into the 15 groove or seat and permits this disc to rotate while preventing transverse shifting thereof. The hub I'l of the disc II is journaled through the bore 'l and has a tapered outer end portion about which ts the conical central portion of a dial I5 which is firmly held in place by the large at head of a screw i3, the stem of which is screwed into a socket formed in the hub of the disc I I. By this arrangement the dial and disc II will turn as a unit and since the disc 4I2 is formed 25 with openings Il through which screws IS pass, the disc I2 will turn with the disc I I. The openings through which the screws I8 pass are elongated radially of the disc and, therefore, the disc I2 may be shifted diametrically of the socket IB. 30

In order to close the socket l@ there is provided a cap or disc l@ carrying a cover plate 20 which is square instead of circular and, therefore, its corner portions project from the cap, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, and overlap the outer face of the section d so that screws 2Ivmay be passed through these corner portions of the cover plate and securely hold the cover plate and cap in place. Registering openings, which are threaded, are formed through the cap and cover plate centrally thereof to receive an adjusting screw 22 having a conical spur or cam 23 at its inner end which is adapted to engage in a conical recess or seat 24 formed in the outer face of the disc I2 and set up a cam action when the 45 screw is turned inwardly which will cause the disc I2 to be shifted toward the right in Figure 2. Grooves 25 and 222 are formed in confronting faces of the discs il and l2 to receive the marginal portion along the back of the blade or ruler 50 I, the groove 26 extending across the disc I2, as shown in Figure 3, and defining a rib 2l which engages in a groove 28 formed in the blade. The blade will, therefore, be in interlocked engagement with the discs and, when the set screw 22 55 is loosened, may be slid longitudinally and caused to project a desired distance from opposite sides or ends of the handle. Whenk the set screw is tightened, the disc l2 will be shifted toward the right in Figure 3 thus causing the rib 2l to be shifted toward the rear edge of the blade and creating a tight binding grip upon the blade which will securely hold the b ade in a set position.

A rib 29 extends longitudinally of the inner face of the -handle section 3 between the socket 6 and the rear end of the section and when the handle section 'l is secured against this rib by the screws Ell, marginal portions ofthe two sections at the front end of the handle and along opposite sides thereof will be held in spaced relation to each other and thus permit the blade to extend transversely of the handle with a portion engaged between the sections or longitudinally of the handle at a selected side thereof with a portion of the blade engaged between the sections as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. It will thus be seen that by properly adjusting the discs, the blade may be caused to extend in desired angular relation to the front edge or a side edge of the handle and the tool may be used as a tri-square, a miter square when laying off risers for steps or the like, or merely as a handle for conveniently holding the ruler.

The angle at which the blade or ruler extends relative to the handle is determined through the medium of the dial l and referring to Figure l it will be seen that this dial is formed about its margin with notches 3l which are spaced from each other circumferentially of the dial and are marked to indicate degrees of a circle. A latch 32 is pivotally mounted in a groove or pocket S3 formed in the outer face of the handle section 3 by a pin 3d and yieldably held in position for its front end to enter a notch of the dial by a spring 35 which extends longitudinally in the pocket where it is secured at its rear end and has its front end engaged under the rear end of the latch. An opening Zit is formed near the rear end of the latch to receive the shank 31 of a button 38 and upon referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that the shank is slidably and rotatably received in a well 39 formed in the rib 29. A head fit in the form or an incomplete circular ilange is formed at the lower end of the shank 3l so that when the latch is moved to a releasing position by pressure applied to the button, the button may be rotated a sufficient distance to move a portion of the head under the shoulder 4l formed by the enlarged portion of the well and thus cause the latch to be securely but releasably held in a releasing position. After the dial has been turned to dispose the blade or ruler in the desired angular relation to the handle, the latch will be released and the spring will move it into a notch of the dial where it will serve very effectively to prevent rotation of the dial and discs and, consequently, the blade cannot move out of an adjusted position.

The device is to be used as a plumb and also as a level and, therefore, the rear end portion of the handle is formed with a passage consisting of registering openings :l2 and 43 formed through the handle sections. These openings are rectangular in shape and walls of the opening 42 are recessed, as shown at 44, to provide seats which are arcuate in cross section. Bubble glasses 45 are seated in the recesses 44 where they are held by a sheet metal frame 46 which ts about the glasses and is held in place by screws 41 acca/rre passed through openings formed in corner sctions of the frame which overlap the handle sections. The usual sight openings 48 are formed in the frame to expose intermediate portions of the bubble glasses and permit their bubbles to be 5 seen when the device is used as a level or plumb.

It will be understood that when the device is used as a level or plumb the blade will be either removed or disposed at a side of the handle Where it will be parallel thereto and used as an extension, thus adding to the bearing surface.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A compound tool comprising a handle consisting of upper and lower companion sections formed with registering openings dening a socket opening through the bottom of the handle and having a bore leading centrally therefrom through the top of the handle, sides of the handle and the adjacent end thereof being formed with slots l connnunicating with the socket, a disc rotatable in the opening of the top section and having a hub rotatably received in the bore, a dial secured to the outer end of said hub, a second disc rotatably received in the opening of the lower handle section and formed with a conical recess at its center and with openings at opposite sides of the recess elongated radially of the disc, opposed grooves formed in marginal portions of confronting faces of said discs, the groove of one disc defining a rib, a blade slidably received in the slotted portions of handle with its rear edge portion engaged in the grooves of said discs and fonned with a longitudinally extending groove receiving the rib of the disc, screws carried by Y the upper disc and engaged through the openings of the lower disc, a cap for the socket carried by lower disc and formed with an opening registering with the center recess of lower disc,

a set screw threaded through the opening of said cap andhaving conical extension at its inner end engaged in the conical recess for shifting the lower disc and causing binding engagement between its. rib and the blade when the set screw is turned inwardly, and means for engaging said dial and releasably holding the dial and discs in a set position with the blade extending in predetermined angular relation to the handle.

2. A compound tool comprising a handle having a socket adjacent oney end and an opening adjacent its other end, a pocket being formed longitudinally of the handle between the socket and opening, the handle being grooved along its sides and across one end with the end groove and adjoining end portions of the side grooves opening into the socket, a passage leading from the socket centrally thereof, discs rotatably mounted in said socket, one disc having a shank rotatably engaged through the passage and the other disc being loosely held in engagement with the first disc and slidable diametrically thereof, confronting faces of the discs being recessed to form a seat and rib, a blade s'lidable longitudinally through said seat and formed with a groove receiving said rib, the second disc being formed with a central cam surface, a cap closing the open end of said pocket, an adjusting screw threaded through said cap and having a cam at its inner end for engaging the cam surface of the disc and shifting the disc to eifect grip upon the blade and secure the blade in a set position in predetermined angular relation to the handle with portions extending through grooves of the handle, a protractor disc carried by the outer end. of said shank, a latch movably mounted in said pocket and yieldably held in position to engage said protractor disc and hold the discs against rotation, bubble glasses iitting against walls of the opening in the handle, and a frame secured in the opening with portions engaging about the bubble glasses and formed with cut-outs exposing portions of the glasses.

3. A tool of the character described comprising a' handle formed with a socket having a bore leading centrally therefrom and having its sides and front end formed with grooves opening into the socket, a marginal recess being formed in the socket, inner and outer discs rotatably mounted in said socket, the inner disc having a shank rotatably engaged through the bore and a marginal rib engaged in the recess, the outer disc being slidable diametrically of the inner disc and turning with th-e inner disc, a. seat being formed between confronting faces of said discs, a blade slidable longitudinally through said seat and having movement in the grooves of the handle when the discs are rotated to dispose the blade in adjusted angular relation to the handle, a cap for said socket, an adjusting screw threaded through said cap and at its inner end having a cam portion engaging a companion portion of the outer disc to shift the disc into gripping engagement with the blade when the screw is turned inwardly, a dial carried by the outer end of said shank, and a latch movably carried by said handle and yieldably held in position to engage and secure the dial and discs in a set position.

4. A tool of the character described comprising a handle formed with a socket and a pocket adjacent the socket, inner and outer discs rotatably mounted in said socket and having confronting faces formed with a seat, a blade slidable through said seat and movable with the discs to an angularly adjusted position relative to the handle, the outer disc being slidable diametrically of the inner disc into position to cause the blade to be gripped in the seat and held against movement relative to the discs, a cap for the socket, a screw threaded through the cap and engaging the outer disc to shift the same to a gripping position when the screw is turned inwardly, a dial carried by the inner disc externally of the handle, a latch pivoted in said pocket and yieldabl'y held in position to engage and secure the dial, and means for moving the latch out of engagement with the dial and releasably holding the latch in an inoperative position.

5. A tool of the character described comprising a handle formed with a socket and a marginal slot opening into the socket, inner and outer discs rotatably mounted in said socket and having confronting faces formed with a seat communieating with the marginal slot of the handle, the outer disc being shiftable diametrically of the inner disc and turning with the inner disc, a cam surface being formed centrally of the outer disc, a cap for said socket, a blade engaged through the seat and marginal slot of the handle, a screw threaded through said cap and having a cam element at its inner end for engaging the cam surface and shifting the outer disc into position to grip the blade when the screw is turned inwardly, a dial carried by the inner disc and disposed externally of the handle, and a latch carried by the handle and movable into and out of position to engage said dial and secure the discs.

6. A tool of the character described comprisbeing formed in the ing a handle, a pair of discs rotatably carried by said handle, one disc being shiftable transversely of the other and having its outer face formed with an inwardly tapered recess, a blade slidable between said discs and moving with the discs 5 to angularly adjusted positions relative to the handle when the discs are rotated, a screw having a cam portion for engaging in the recess and shifting the disc to a position to grip the blade when the screw is turned inwardly, and means for releasably holding the discs against rotation with the blade at a predetermined angle relative to the handle.

'7. A tool of the character described comprising a handle, opposed discs rotatably carried by said handle, a blade slidable longitudinally between said discs and movable with the discs to angularly adjusted positions relative to the handle, one disc being shiftable transversely of both the blade and the other disc and adapted to grip the blade and secure the blade in an adjusted position when shifted in one direction, means carried by the handle for releasably securing the shiftable disc in position to grip the blade and prevent longitudinal sliding of the blade also serving as means for shifting the disc to a gripping position, a dial carried by the other disc, and a latch movable into and out of position to engage said dial and hold the dial and discs against rotation with the blade in desired angular relation to the handle.

8. A tool of the character described comprising a handle, discs carried by said handle and rotatable together relative thereto, a blade slidable longitudinally between said discs with portions projecting from the handle, one disc being shiftable into and out of position to grip the blade and secure the blade against sliding, means for shifting the said disc to a gripping position and securing the same in the gripping position, a dial carried by the other disc externally of the handle,

a pocket being formed in said handle adjacent said dial, a well leading from said pocket, a latch pivotally mounted in said pocket and having an opening over the well, a spring yieldably holding the latch in an operative position for engaging the dial and securing the dial and discs against rotation, and an actuating button for the latch having a shank slidably engaged through the opening of the latch and extending into the well and having an abutment for engaging a shoulder in the well and releasably holding the button in a depressed position with the latch out of engagement with said dial.

9. A tool of the character described comprising a handle, a blade, blade-holding means rotatably carried by said handle, a dial carried by and rotating with the blade-holding means, a pocket handle adjacent the dial and the handle being formed with an opening leading from the pocket and having a shoulder intermediate its depth, a latch in the pocket pivotally mounted and yieldably held in position to engage the dial, and a button carried by said latch and having a shank slidably received in the well 55 and rotatable therein and formed with a flange movable into position to engage under the shoulder and hold the latch out of engagement with the dial when the button is pressed upon and' turned in the well.

JAMES J. PLUMB. 

